Healthcare resource use and associated costs for patients with an ileostomy experiencing peristomal skin complications

Peristomal skin complications (PSCs) have a significant impact on quality of life and ostomy treatment costs. This study aimed to assess the healthcare resource use for patients with an ileostomy and PSCs symptoms. Two surveys were developed and, after validation by healthcare professionals and patients, data were collected on healthcare resource use while not experiencing any PSCs symptoms and while experiencing complications of various severities, as defined by the modified Ostomy Skin Tool. Costs applied to resource use were assigned from relevant United Kingdom sources. Additional healthcare resource use associated with PSCs, relative to no complications, was estimated to result in a total cost per instance of £258, £383, and £505 for mild, moderate, or severe PSC, respectively. The average estimated total cost per complication instance, weighted across mild, moderate, and severe PSCs, was £349. Severe-level PSCs were associated with the highest cost, because of the treatment-level required and the longer duration of symptoms. There is potential for clinical benefits and economising in stoma care if interventions are implemented that reduce the incidence and/or severity of PSCs.